NBA scoring leader Russell Westbrook put on another display of offensive fireworks on Wednesday, pouring in 42 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-110 NBA victory over the Pelicans in New Orleans.
Westbrook flirted with a triple-double, finishing 10 rebounds and seven assists. But Westbrook had plenty of help from the Thunder's supporting cast. He was on the bench early in the fourth quarter when Oklahoma City's reserves produced 11 points in a 16-2 scoring run that broke open a close game, turning an 89-87 edge into a 105-89 lead.
Backup guard Alex Abrines scored 12 of his career-high 18 points in the fourth quarter. The 23-year-old from Spain, playing in his first NBA season, finished with five three-pointers.
"It was one of those days where you feel like the rim is bigger and you can score on almost every shot," Abrines said.
Westbrook was delighted to see Abrines show in a game the long-range skills he has displayed in practice. "He can shoot the hell out of the ball, man," he said.
"He works out every day and works on his game, and that's the best part about him. This is his first year and he's going to learn the ups and downs throughout the whole season, but tonight he did a great job making shots."
Irving, James lead Cavs
A day after its overtime win in Milwaukee, the reigning champion Cavaliers beat the same Bucks team 113-102 in Cleveland.
Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, who both played big minutes on Tuesday, showed no sign of fatigue, Irving scoring 31 points and handing out a career-high 13 assists and James adding 29 points in the victory.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue admitted he thought about resting the pair, but with Kevin Love still sidelined by a sore knee and J.R. Smith out with a broken thumb, his options were limited.
Irving, for one, was glad to get another crack at the Bucks, which stunned the Cavs 118-101 in November.
"I'm fired up to go against them every time now, for real," he said. "Ever since they kicked our ass in Milwaukee, it's been personal and it's going to continue to be personal."
In Phoenix, James Harden scored 27 points and handed out 14 assists to help the Houston Rockets bounce back from its first defeat of December.
The Rockets drained 18 three-pointers in the 125-111 triumph that came a day after a tough 102-100 loss to San Antonio ended Houston's 10-game winning streak. "It's a good bounce-back win, back-to-back, and the guys showed some heart," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said.
Timberwolves downs depleted Hawks
With Dwight Howard sidelined for a second game by tightness in his back, the Atlanta Hawks fell 92-84 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who put together consecutive victories for the first time this season.
"It changed the game plan a little bit," Towns said of Howard's absence. "We went in there and did a great job of attacking the paint and using the paint to our advantage."
Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points and Zach LaVine added 17 for Minnesota.
In a game that featured a dozen lead changes, the young Timberwolves kept its composure as the Hawks closed within three points with 4:51 remaining. "We did a great job finishing the game," Towns said. "We stayed the course and stuck with our game plan and executed it near flawlessly at the end."
The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks both eked out narrow road wins.
DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points, including five key free throws in the final minute as the Kings rallied to down the Jazz 94-93 in Utah.
And the Mavericks edged the Trail Blazers 96-95 in Portland.
Dallas led by as many as 25 points in the third quarter, but escaped with the victory only after Trail Blazer guard Damian Lillard's three-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.
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